HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1735

BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Braddock, P. King, Brekke and Ebersole;by request of Department of Licensing)

Providing a voluntary substance abuse program for health care licensees.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Bristow, Brooks, Bumgarner, Cantwell, Lewis, Lux, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Health Care be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (22)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Brough, Butterfield, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Silver, H. Sommers, Spanel, Sprenkle, Wang and B. Williams.

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 15, 1988

BACKGROUND:

There is no specific program for the rehabilitation of health professionals regulated by the state whose competency may be impaired due to the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, except in cases involving physicians under the Medical Disciplinary Board.

SUMMARY:

There is a legislative declaration that health professionals impaired by alcohol or drug abuse be treated so that they can return to practice safely.

A voluntary substance abuse monitoring program can replace disciplinary action by the disciplinary authorities regulating the 22 health professions credentialed by the state.  Costs are the responsibility of the practitioner.  Additional services and programs may be required, including probationary conditions.  Those not successfully completing the program are subject to disciplinary action.

Those not under investigation may volunteer without being subject to disciplinary action.

Treatment records are considered confidential and not subject to examination in court, except monitoring records requested by the disciplinary authority for cause.

Persons who report in good faith information about an impaired practitioner are immune from civil liability, including the monitoring treatment program, and the professional association operating the program.

The program covers all regulated health professions under the Uniform Disciplinary Act including pharmacists.

Appropriation:    $39,000 to the Department of Licensing from the health professions account and $5,000 to the Pharmacy Board from the general fund.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Health Care) Bruce Selleg, Department of Licensing; Connie Roth, Executive Director, Nursing Board; Linda Grant, Association of Alcoholism and Addictions; Greg Hanon, Washington State Veterinary Medical Association; Ken Bertrand, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound; Robert Ball, Washington Health Care Association.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Health Care) None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Health Care) Providing treatment instead of punitive sanctions is preferable so that impaired health professionals can return to practice.  Their skills do not go wasted and they become valued in their own right.  Alcoholism is considered a disease, and has been de-criminalized.

(Ways & Means Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Health Care) None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.